In the OR Owen was working with Derek and Mark.
"How's Danika," Mark asked, "driving you nuts yet?"
"Didn't you send Danika to summer camp," Derek asked.
"Ballet program in New York," Owen said, "she's loving it and happy dancing all day seeing shows and making new friends."
"Do we want to know how much kid stuff like that is," Derek asked.
"Tuition is about $12 grand a year," Mark said.
"Danika's is closer to 20," Owen said, "but she's also got dance classes and music lessons in her schedule. It doesn't include private lessons, costumes or RAD exams."
"You and Altman do that for her sister," Derek said.
"Their dad was a big wig in publishing," Owen said, "there's a trust fund Teddy uses for tuition."
"But 20 grand," Derek said.
"At least. Tuition and uniforms, ballet shoes, ballet exams, lunch at school," Owen said, "why are you asking?"
"We're adopting," Derek said.
"The school tuition is worth it," Owen said, "Allison will go to private school. I went to public school but Teddy went to private schools and it matters to her. That's not the hard part of kids. Our daughter is the easy one."
"Teenagers are hard," Mark agreed.
"How's Sloan doing since she came back," Owen asked.
"Lonely she has no friends," Mark said, "but the school she'll be at in the fall no one knows her or what happened."
"A fresh start is good," Owen agreed.
"It will be," Mark agreed, "I'd like to try to get her together with Danika again."
"No," Owen said, "we promised Dani we wouldn't make her do that again."
"Why," Derek asked, having not been at the dinner party.
"They didn't get along the couple times we've tried," Owen said.
With Callie and Arizona in Africa Richard lead a new ortho attending to the attendings lounge.
"Dr Altman, Dr Bailey," Richard said coming in.
"Chief," Teddy looked up from the article she was reading. She froze she recognized the man with Richard. She had briefly dated him on one of her tours. The break up had been amicable when they realized they really didn't have much more than being in the same place as surgeons in common.
"I'd like you to meet our new Ortho attending John Cloutier," Richard said, "my head of cardio Dr. Teddy Altman and one of our general attendings Dr Miranda Bailey."
Teddy looked at the man and smiled, "Cloutier! It's good to see you."
"Altman," John smiled, "it's been a couple years."
Teddy went to shake his hand then the man went in for a hug making Teddy jump back.
"It has," Teddy agreed, "Richard, Miranda, John and I served together. Cloutier, have you been back long?"
"Couple months," John said, "do you see anyone?"
"Owen Hunt and I are married and we have a 1 year old daughter," Teddy said, "Megan Hunt and Riggs are here."
"You and Hunt," John said.
"A couple years now," Teddy smiled, "he's in the OR now."
"You have kids," John said.
"Our daughter and we have custody of my half sister Danika," Teddy said, "we've had Dani for just over 2 years now. She's away at a ballet summer intensive."
"You always talked about your sister. But I thought she was with her mom," John said.
"Her mom passed so I'm it, then Owen being Owen decided to raise a teenager with me," Teddy said, "Owen, Megan and Riggs will be happy to see you."
"Are they around," John asked.
"Owen is in OR 3," Richard said, "Megan?"
"She's only doing follow ups and consulting," Teddy said, "Riggs is at a conference for a couple days. Meg wasn't pleased."
"She's due soon," Bailey commented.
"Three weeks," Teddy smiled, "a little boy. Evelyn is loving it and having one of each."
"Megan Hunt," John asked.
"Yes," Teddy smiled.
"You and Hunt, how long were you here," John asked.
"Six weeks before we started dating," Teddy said.
Teddy's pager went off for the Pit.
"Multiple traumas," Teddy yelled seeing the code on her pager.
"Can I help," John asked.
"Jump in where you're needed," Richard said.
Waiting for the ambulance Richard asked, "how's Danika doing at her summer course."
"She loves it but misses home," Teddy smiled, "she likes being home."
After assessing the patient Teddy and Miranda took the patient up to the OR.
"Altman you okay," Miranda asked.
"John is an ex boyfriend," Teddy said, "Owen knows I dated him. Sort of dated, we hung out but Owen was still my best friend."
"He tried to hug you," Miranda said.
"Not happening," Teddy said, "he was always jealous of my friendship with Owen. that's why I told him about the kids and being married right off."
"Will you be okay Altman," Bailey asked.
"I always am," Teddy said, "we finish this week then go get Dani from her summer program. And Owen and I took August off for some family time. He rented a trailer and we're going on a road trip. Camping down the west coast."
"Camping with 2 kids," Miranda asked.
"Dani actually really likes it," Teddy said, "we relax and slow down. It's just the four of us. The first time we took her camping she was skeptical but Owen had bought a skimboard, sand buckets and a kite and Dani loves to play on the beach. Allison likes the fresh air. Have you taken Tuck camping?"
"His dad has," Miranda said, "but I don't camp."
"I didn't until Iraq," Teddy said, "then I lived in tents for a few years. Owen loves to camp and when he first suggested it the first summer I had Dani to take her camping and he planned it all."
"Hunt planned that for your sister," Miranda asked.
"He did," Teddy smiled, "he was trying to get to me by planning things and helping care for my sister."
"He loved you the day you showed up I knew that," Miranda said, "I'm Dr. Bailey I know all."
"I know you do," Teddy laughed.
Owen paged for Ortho to the OR for the trauma patient.
"Owen Hunt," James said walking into the OR, "I recognize that cap anywhere."
"James Cloutier," Owen said.
"I knew you were in here," James said, "I saw your wife. So you and Altman finally got together. You got over yourself."
"She came out here for Dani then we started to spend more time together and dating," Owen said.
"She said you have a daughter," James said.
"We do," Owen said, "Allison is one and Danika is 16."
"You know each other," Derek observed.
"We served together in the sand pit for a couple tours," Owen said, "Lt Cloutier this is Derek Shepherd neuro and Mark Soan plastics. Cloutier is Ortho."
"What's going on with this guy," James asked.
"We need to stabilize the spine," Derek said, "Hunt is almost finished getting the bleeding under control."
"You and Altman," James said to owen again, "with two kids."
"It's great," Owen said, "Mark's daughter is a year older than Dani."
"They good friends," James asked.
"No. Dani goes to school with the Chiefs nephew and her and Patrick are friends," Owen said.
Back in the lounge Teddy thought out loud, "how do I tell Owen I want another baby?"
"Tell Hunt," Miranda said, "you really want to do that again."
"I want one more I'm 39 so," Teddy said.
"You're that much older than me," Miranda said.
"Yep," Teddy replied.
"Baby Hunt would be good," Miranda said, "Allison is your mini me."
"She is," Teddy smiled, "but then we'd have to move. We're in a three bedroom place. Both girls are in their own rooms. I promised Danika when I had Allison that her room was untouchable. Danis room is hers."
"If you move to a bigger place," Miranda asked, "could you?"
"We could but we've only been in that house two years," Teddy said, "Dani finally trusts us. I grew up as an only child."
"So did I, it's lonely," Miranda said.
"It was," Teddy agreed, "I always promised myself I'd never do that to my child. But I had Allison so much later in life then I thought I would. I thought I wanted three or four kids."
"One more and you have three," Miranda said, "your sister?"
"We'll tell her when we have to again," Teddy said, "she trusts that we're there for her now. She knows Owen and I are always there.
"She went to camp," Miranda said, "how did that go?"
"She's still at her summer intensive, one more week," Teddy smiled, "it's been good for her. She messages us or calls us every day but that's her trauma and anxiety. She's having fun."
"You and Ben," Teddy asked.
"He proposed," Miranda smiled.
"And," Teddy asked.
"I said yes," Miranda beamed, "but I don't have the ring here.
"Well Ladies night tomorrow you'll have to show us," Teddy replied.
"Wedding with kids," Miranda asked.
"I couldn't have done it without the girls there," Teddy smiled.
"How's Megan," Miranda asked.
"Bored," Teddy replied, "wedding ideas?"
"I haven't told my parents yet," Miranda said, 'so that's first. And I want to do it when Torres and Robbins are here."
"Tell them," Teddy agreed.
"How are you coping with your oldest being away," Miranda asked.
"It's different," Teddy said, "I like having her home. I miss her chatter."
"She went willingly," Miranda asked.
"She begged to go," Teddy said, "she calls home a few times a week and emails but she's good. She's happy and having fun. She trusts our family now. She knows she can always come home."
"Her and Hunt," Miranda asked.
"Close," Teddy smiled, "he found his ins with her. He knew when we started dating that I had custody of Danika and would be raising my sister. He knew and chose to co parent my sister with me. Ben knows. He loves Tuck and Tuck loves him. Ben knows you and Tuck are a package deal. He loves you and is choosing to be a dad for Tuck."
"Did Allison have anything to do with Hunt's choice to raise Danika with you,"'Miranda asked.
"She sped up the timeline but Owen and I were already talking about it. He was sleeping over a couple times a week," Teddy said, "doing school pick up and drop off those days with me or for me. Picking her up and making her dinner if I was stuck in the OR driving her to school if I had to start really early. The only time I wished he had talked to me first was the first Christmas when he got her a bike."
"Is that a problem," Miranda asked, "Ben got Tuck one for his birthday with training wheels."
"No," Teddy said, "Dani loves her bike and riding with us. It was just something that I wish he would have given me a heads up. He talked to me about her skis this year. Owen likes to get her sports equipment or things she can do."
"Video games," Miranda asked.
"No," Teddy said, "we have an xbox Owen bought for himself before we were together and the odd time she'll play mario cart with a friend but it rarely gets turned on. Owen doesn't have time. I think Dani has used it maybe 10 times."
"At night," Miranda asked.
"We pick Dani up from school at 6 which is okay because we finish here about 5:30," Teddy said, "dinner, homework or play time, bath or shower. We read to Allison and put her to bed. Dani and I have time to have cocoa and a chat or the three of us play a card or board game. We have our routines."
"Thats about ours," Miranda agreed, "but I get time with Ben after Tuck goes to bed."
"Dani is in her room before we go up we get time just us then and she has Saturday rehearsals from 9-2 so that helps and this month of her being away is really good for us as a couple but we miss her," Teddy said, "Owen and I have always had the girls around."
"Do you have a babysitter," Miranda asked.
"Dani," Teddy said, "if we won't be gone overnight. If we're overnight Megan and Riggs or Evelyn. Are you looking for one?"
"I could use a teenager for a few hours here and there," Miranda said, "would yours?"
"I can ask," Teddy smiled, "she likes babysitting Allison."
"What do you pay a teenager to babysit," Miranda asked.
"Her allowance," Teddy replied, "I would but Owen said no. it's part of being a family. He says if Megan asks her to babysit she's just to do it."
"What's fair," Miranda asked.
"I don't know," Teddy said, "$5-10? Whats minimum wage here?"
"$8," Miranda said.
"What ever you think is fair," Teddy said, "if she's been babysitting a lot we might give an extra $10 or $20 for allowance but she has her chores that earn her allowance."
"How much is Allowance," Miranda asked, "do I need to give it to Tuck?"
"Dani started getting it at 9," Teddy said, "and most of her social outings come from it. If she wants to get coffee with friends, go see a movie, grab extra snacks at school she uses it. She gets $25 a week."
"I used to get 5," Miranda said, "at her age."
"She's getting less than I did but we want her to learn to budget and pick and choose what she uses her allowance on," Teddy replied.
"This parenting thing," Miranda said.
"Is complicated," Teddy agreed, "my toddler is my easy one that way. When do you potty train?"
"You've got a while yet Altman," Miranda said, "she's what 15 months?"
"Just about," Teddy agreed.
"Another year," Miranda said, "between 2 and 3. Is she walking?"
"Walking and some words," Teddy replied, "mama, daddy, da."
"Da," Miranda asked.
"Danika," Teddy smiled, "the three people she lives with. Her big sister slash aunt. Megan is more of an auntie and Dani is more of a big sister. But I'm more her parent than Dani's sister that way."
"I don't envy you in that role," Miranda said, "she's a good kid when she's here. Her and Patrick Webber are getting to be very helpful in Peds or helping with major events."
"They are," Teddy agreed, "teach them to help. Help where and how you can."
"The plane crash a couple months ago they were really good," Miranda said, "she was great with the kids."
"She understands the fear of losing some one and being in a hospital with a sick parent," Teddy said, "I was there and I held her hand but she understood. I tried to make it as calm and safe as I could for her."
"Her mother," Miranda said.
"June couldn't handle it and taking care of Dani. I suspect June was bi polar," Teddy replied, "Dani learned I would be there. Hows Tuck with Ben?"
"He loves him," Miranda said, "they play cars and build castles and Ben is teaching Tuck to ride a bike."
"Thats cute to watch," Teddy said, "Christmas morning, he was teaching her in the driveway. It'll be Allison's turn soon enough. She loves going in her seat for bike rides. We'll do a lot of that camping."
"Camping really that's your vacation," Miranda asked, "with dirt and tents and bugs?"
"Owen rented a trailer to see if we like using a trailer but yes dirt, bugs, hiking, bike rides, swimming, smores," Teddy confirmed, "letting the kids be kids and then we're not surgeons. We're just a family, we can be a normal family."
In New York Danika stood at the side of the studio listening to the other girls talk about a party they were planning on sneaking out to.
"Danika are you coming," Lauren asked.
"No," Danika said, "I think I'll stay here with the others and hang out."
"Why not," Lauren said, "you boarded at Pac Rim that's the party school."
"I boarded in 4th to 8th," Danika said, "I was in baby houses. My sister moved me to her house with her and her husband the summer between 8th and 9th."
"Sister," a girl asked.
"I live with Teddy and her husband Owen," Danika said.
"Your parents," the girl asked.
"Dead," Danika replied, "dad when I was 7 and mom when I was 14. It's just me and Teddy. We'll Owen and their daughter Allison."
"So your sister sent you here how," the girl asked.
"Teddy is a lot older her and her husband are surgeons," Danika replied, "I had a choice of this or summer camp. "
"Getting rid of you," a girl asked.
"No," Danika said, "Owen called it trying new things and growing up."
"When you call home," Lauren said, "the first day when you didn't have to be weighed how did you do that?"
"When I call home I talk to Teddy or Owen and I called home to get out of being weighed. Teddy wouldn't make me, neither would Owen."
"So at home strict diet my mom is super strict salads and chicken thats it," another girl said changing the subject.
"I guess we're normal, meat, veggies, rice or potatoes, pasta sometimes," Danika said, "breakfast is lame. Toast and scrambled eggs or oatmeal, fruit and yogurt."
"Do your families measure everything you eat," a girl asked.
"No," Danika said, "I get asked if I'm okay if I don't eat much or asked if I worked extra hard if I eat more dinner than normal but Teddy and Owen would never measure my food."
"What's your rule," Lauren asked.
"Eat if your hungry and listen to your body," Danika said, "I don't get to pick what's for dinner but I choose how much I eat."
"Thats not fair," Lauren said.
"I know my mom uses a scale and measuring cups," a girl said.
"That seems silly," Danika said, "it's fuel."
"You actually believe that," Lauren said.
"Haven't you had to take anatomy," Danika asked.
"No, that's only boarding kids," a girl said.
"Full day program does the same classes," Danika said, "Teddy is a heart surgeon and Owen is a trauma and General surgeon. They like to go over my anatomy home work at home."
"Is it weird living with your sister and Owen," Lauren asked.
"No," Danika said, "they act like my friends' parents but I call them by their names. Neither is the push over parent. But bad marks go to him first and getting in trouble with a teacher she's better with."
"You play them," Lauren said.
"No I just know he's calmer with I got a B on a math test then she is," Danika said, "Owen's response is how are we going to fix it. Teddy gets mad."
"And when you piss off a teacher," Lauren asked.
"Tell Teddy firs, I get oh Dani what did you do this time or Dani we talked about this," Danika rolled her eyes, "come on your parents must be similar."
"My mom doesn't care about school," Lauren said.
"I board at my school," a girl said, "they see my marks 2-3 times a year it's easy to hide it."
"I'm pretty sure Teddy would call my teachers if she went a couple weeks with out updated marks," Danika said.
"Is anyone's family coming to the show next week," a boy asked.
"Mine," Danika said, " yours?"
"They can't afford it," the boy said, "but I'm not surprised. Mom had to get a second job to send me here this summer and to Pacific Rim in the fall. How can your family come?"
"I live with my sister and her husband, they're both doctors," Danika said, "they took all of August off so we can have family time. Pac Rim your from Seattle?"
"No," the boy said, "Chicago. I'm staying with my grandparents in Seattle."
"I'm a day student at Pac Rim. I boarded for a few years because my sister was deployed with the army but being home and only there for the school day is better," Danika said, "Jack you'll like it."
"How are the teachers," Jack asked.
"Good," Danika said, "avoid Miss Whitman for English but the rest are good."
"Are there choices for academic teachers," Jack asked.
"Theres 2 for each subject its a big school fourth through twelfth," Danika said, "some weird rules."
"Like what," Jack asked.
"We're going to 11th so the most annoying one goes away but we still have to sign out," Danika said, "no more needing written permission to leave at lunch."
"Hows the food," Jack asked, "I heard lunch is included."
"It is," Danika said, "pretty basic and the same, soups , sandwiches, salads, fruit and veggies. Something fun on fridays."
"Is it true you have Saturday classes," Jack asked.
"We do," Danika said, "for show rehearsals and those of us that choose to do the RAD syllabus elective."
"Do you," Jack asked.
"I am," Danika said, "solo seal 2 year plan."
"You're already on your solo seal," Jack asked, "you got distinction on your advanced 2?"
"I do my exams and all of the optional exam classes and the odd private lesson," Danika said, "do you know any one?"
"Just you," Jack said.
"I'm transferring to Pac Rim," a girl named Emma said.
"You'll have to come over before school starts," Danika said, "both of you."
"But your sister," Emma said, "she sounds strict."
"She spent too much time in the army," Danika said, "Teddy is a big softee, so is Owen. When I have people over they just want to know who and what they're ordering or making for dinner."
"They're that cool," Jack asked.
"Usually," Danika said, "as long as their not working or on call. On call nights suck."
"On call nights," Emma asked.
"Both are surgeons and heads of their departments when emergencies come in they get called to go to the hospital and fix it. It's okay if just one gets called but when they both do they make me go to the hospital with them and my niece."
"Your niece," Jack asked.
"Teddy and Owen have a one year old," Danika said, "Allison. I actually miss Allison toddling around yelling Da and waving a toy at me."
"Da," Emma asked.
"She can't say Danika yet," Danika replied, "my sister and her husband call me Dani so Allison will probably say Dani."
"Dani," Lauren said.
"I don't like Dani. Only Teddy and Owen can call me that," Danika said, "and only because she's called me that since I was a baby."
"Do you have plans for the rest of the summer," Jack asked, "I move to Seattle August 20th."
"We get back from our road trip the 24th or 25th," Danika replied, "another few days in New York, see some of Teddy and my Dad's friends then home, get ready for the road tip and we're driving down to San Francisco."
"Road trip," Lauren said.
"Owen's idea," Danika said, "they go on these no dance for a few weeks or days kicks. Over training they call it."
"Really you get to do things other than dance," Emma asked.
"Yes," Danika said, "Sundays are no dance days. I think that's an Owen thing, I don't always like it but it's not worth fighting them on. I tried. He took my pointe shoes and hid them in the garage."
"At least it wasn't your phone," Lauren said.
"That happens two," Danika groaned.
"I'm boarding do you know anything about a house mom named Tatiana," Emma asked.
"She was mine for 4 years she's awesome," Danika sais, "she likes popsicles and popcorn when it's home work time. I didn't know she moved to senior houses. She was mine from 4th to 8th. What about the other people?"
"Emilia, Lizzie and Patrick are awesome, Asher is pretty cool," Danika said.
"The rest of our grade," Emma asked.
"Stuck up princesses," Danika said, "and they party. I don't party."
